DARING BURGLARY

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1232, 29 May 1947, Page 7

DARING BURGLARY

MATAMATA STORE ENTERED Value Of Nightwatchman Since Matamata businessmen failed to agree upon the provision of a nightwatchman there has been a series of somewhat impudent burglaries in the business area. The most daring of these occurred recently when thieves backed in some kind of a motor conveyance to the Town and Country Store in Arawa Street and got away with a large proportion of the stock. Nemesis was at hand, however, for it is stated that a farmer some 39 miles 1 away, having suspicions regarding some men who had occupied a deserted building being connected with a sheep that had been killed on his property, rang the police. On the arrival of the police the farmer accompanied the officer to the building. The door was looked and there was no response to a loud knock. Going round the side of the building and looking through a window, the constable saw a man disappearing under a bunk. He called upon the occupant to open the door, which the latter did. A plausible excuse was given foy the suspected party for his action, and when asked where his mate was, the man under suspicion expressed surprise that the police had not met him as he had gone to town. Knowing this to be false, the constable looked under another bunk and found the second man there.

A search revealed a large quantity of groceries and other goods resembling those taken from the Matamata shop, and both men were taken into custody.